SAGINAW, MI — The Saginaw Spirit had it set up perfectly in their playoff opener on the road against the Erie Otters.

The Spirit just couldn’t get out of their own way.

Saginaw outscored the Otters 3-1 at regular strength, but it surrendered goals to the Otters on 3 of 5 power play opportunities, including a Dane Fox tally with 1:42 left in the third to drop a 4-3 heartbreaker.

Erie took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that rejoins at Erie Insurance Arena for Game 2 on Saturday, March 22.

The No. 1 line for the Spirit came out firing on all cylinders and struck 64 seconds into the game on an Eric Locke goal that was assisted on by Kristoff Kontos, and Luke Cairns broke through for a 2-0 Saginaw advantage five minutes later.

Jake Paterson did his job, finishing with 44 saves, and he turned aside the Otters time and again to keep Saginaw on top. Seemingly the only way Erie was able to best him was with the man advantage, and the Spirit gave them several opportunities.

Connor Brown scored the first power play goal late in the first period and Andre Burakovsky scored with the man advantage at 6:25 of the second period to tie it 2-2.

But the Spirit didn’t quit.

They didn’t generate too my quality scoring opportunities, but they took advantage of the ones they did have, including one that became a Kristoff Kontos goal with 3:30 left in the second period to make it 3-2.

And Paterson did his best from there, but it wasn’t enough.

Burakovsky scored five minutes into the third and Fox scored the game winner on the power play at 18:18 of the third to secure the win.

Saginaw native Devin Williams made the start for Erie and had 25 saves.

Locke and Kontos had a goal and two assists apiece.

Cory Butzin covers sports for MLive/Saginaw News. Email
him at cbutzin1@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.